When will we be able to go to the pub again?

[popeyewhite]

TameRacingDriver said:

For me, the prospect sounds grim. No doubt though that just makes us alcoholics in some peoples eyes, luckily, I don’t really care what ‘they’ think. The UK will very much be a worse place without them.

I rarely go to the pub, but it would be awfful if they weren't there. I think there is scope for shutting the crowded city centre pubs (whcich are more likely to survive), but leaving quieter non-brewery owned public houses alone. Some of the photos showing the crowds outside pubs in Stafford and London were shocking for the disregard to social distancing. I couldn't care less if it's outdoors, no one's telling me if you're stood two foot from the person next to you while they're shouting in your ear you're not risking infection. Just absurd behaviour and if people aren't careful they'll deserve the pubs shutting.

[bad company]

[redacted]

[wst]

I do remember the time I got a job interview from being at the pub. We were both the wrong side of tipsy and he did make it clear that there is a strong separation between work and pub

He then said if I was serious, to give him a call at 10am the next day.

Didn't get the job BUT the situation was entertaining.

[Uggers]

TameRacingDriver said:

At xmas I went to a place called ‘Stack’ in Newcastle, its largely an outdoor venue. It was heaving, despite the cold. You can get very good heaters nowadays for outdoors. All is not lost (yet).

Yes been to many places like that in Norway. No doubt the capital investment for heaters and also the return on the risk would be significant. Some pubs were barely scraping through as they were, especially in rural areas. The suburban chain gastropub seems fairly safe I reckon.

One of my locals has really really tried hard, takes deliveries of parcels, become a post office. Has a room for groups to use and it's the epicentre of the village, but he admits he isn't making much money from it all

[Sheets Tabuer]

Went to the village pub tonight, pure comedy, we were greeted at the door by the barmaid who directed us to the huge QR code on the wall to scan in for track and trace, then shown to a table where we ordered some drinks and she brought them over. Pretty simple huh?

Then an old couple walked in, went to the bar and promptly rummaged in a bag for their facemasks, they were then directed to the QR code, five minute of explaining to them what a QR code was they were ready to scan it, oh no it won't scan because they didn't have the app so the next step was to connect them to the wifi (very rural no phone signal here) now they were ready to go but oh no the camera isn't good enough to take a picture of the code so a couple of staff helpfully held their phone torch on to illuminate the code, meanwhile bob (one of the farmers) needed another drink he stood up from his stool only to be scolded for leaving his seat without his mask he was only getting his wallet he protested. Then the now seated husband of the lady with phone issues exclaimed he needed the loo and got up to use the bathroom MASK!!!! cried out and he quickly returned to get his covering.

Returning to his table he again forgot his mask and and went to look for it forgetting he'd put it in his pocket, lots of tutting and eye rolling from his wife.

Then another customer walked in this time wearing a mask but without a phone confusing the staff as to how they were going to record his visit. It went on and on and I swear Julie waters was going to come out at some point carrying a tea tray.

That's probably the total amount of custom they are going to get tonight and we all know each other, I'd imagine it would work in spoons in a city centre but here? what a faff.

[bad company]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Went to the village pub tonight, pure comedy, we were greeted at the door by the barmaid who directed us to the huge QR code on the wall to scan in for track and trace, then shown to a table where we ordered some drinks and she brought them over. Pretty simple huh?

Then an old couple walked in, went to the bar and promptly rummaged in a bag for their facemasks, they were then directed to the QR code, five minute of explaining to them what a QR code was they were ready to scan it, oh no it won't scan because they didn't have the app so the next step was to connect them to the wifi (very rural no phone signal here) now they were ready to go but oh no the camera isn't good enough to take a picture of the code so a couple of staff helpfully held their phone torch on to illuminate the code, meanwhile bob (one of the farmers) needed another drink he stood up from his stool only to be scolded for leaving his seat without his mask he was only getting his wallet he protested. Then the now seated husband of the lady with phone issues exclaimed he needed the loo and got up to use the bathroom MASK!!!! cried out and he quickly returned to get his covering.

Returning to his table he again forgot his mask and and went to look for it forgetting he'd put it in his pocket, lots of tutting and eye rolling from his wife.

Then another customer walked in this time wearing a mask but without a phone confusing the staff as to how they were going to record his visit. It went on and on and I swear Julie waters was going to come out at some point carrying a tea tray.

That's probably the total amount of custom they are going to get tonight and we all know each other, I'd imagine it would work in spoons in a city centre but here? what a faff.

Joke isn’t it, Boris wants us all in bed & lights out by 10:45.

I voted for this government but they seem clueless on Covid.

[Turn7]

bad company said:

Joke isn’t it, Boris wants us all in bed & lights out by 10:45.

I voted for this government but they seem clueless on Covid.

EFA

[Not-The-Messiah]

Also went into a pub tonight not been in before was with two work mates who I work with all day.

First question.
"Are from the same household?"
"Yes" are we fk

Next question.
"Do you have a mask"
"For f sake probably in the van" if I was local I would have called it there and gone to another pub.

"Can we have one of your details for track and trace?"
"Jim Savile the BBC broom cupboard" or something like that.

They are all wearing the stupid and completely pointless visors that do fk all.

Then after finishing the drinks you sit there thinks how do you get another drink? Table service only but no one comes and asks you if you want a drink.

I have got to the point now I hope they go bump.

[bad company]

10pm pub closing not good enough. People will just go on to house parties. Need a mandatory 10:45pm National Crisis Bedtime. Teeth done by 10:40, light off 10:44. No you can't have a glass of water you should have thought of that before.

[anonymous-user]

The older generation has been fked over many times, all the new systems are very computer heavy, which many older people don't use.

[bad company]

I’m out for a few beers in London tomorrow. Should be an experience.

[fastraxx]

Not-The-Messiah said:

Also went into a pub tonight not been in before was with two work mates who I work with all day.

First question.
"Are from the same household?"
"Yes" are we fk

Next question.
"Do you have a mask"
"For f sake probably in the van" if I was local I would have called it there and gone to another pub.

"Can we have one of your details for track and trace?"
"Jim Savile the BBC broom cupboard" or something like that.

They are all wearing the stupid and completely pointless visors that do fk all.

Then after finishing the drinks you sit there thinks how do you get another drink? Table service only but no one comes and asks you if you want a drink.

I have got to the point now I hope they go bump.

Yeah, few I have been in don't seem to understand that people want more drinks or it would be nice to be asked and guess what, this helps them make more money, but no no, they just stand around looking at insta or doing something else.

[Not-The-Messiah]

fastraxx said:

Not-The-Messiah said:

Also went into a pub tonight not been in before was with two work mates who I work with all day.

First question.
"Are from the same household?"
"Yes" are we fk

Next question.
"Do you have a mask"
"For f sake probably in the van" if I was local I would have called it there and gone to another pub.

"Can we have one of your details for track and trace?"
"Jim Savile the BBC broom cupboard" or something like that.

They are all wearing the stupid and completely pointless visors that do fk all.

Then after finishing the drinks you sit there thinks how do you get another drink? Table service only but no one comes and asks you if you want a drink.

I have got to the point now I hope they go bump.

Yeah, few I have been in don't seem to understand that people want more drinks or it would be nice to be asked and guess what, this helps them make more money, but no no, they just stand around looking at insta or doing something else.

They don't seem to have got it, all they need to do is walk around asking "you good?" They seem to wait until every glass on the table is empty then leave it another ten minutes until you end up shouting "can we get some drinks please?"

I love going to the pub but if this st continues I'm going to need to give it a miss.

[anonymous-user]

bad company said:

I’m out for a few beers in London tomorrow. Should be an experience.

Maniac.

[Robertj21a]

bad company said:

I’m out for a few beers in London tomorrow. Should be an experience.

Lunchtime or afternoons are available.........

[bad company]

Robertj21a said:

bad company said:

I’m out for a few beers in London tomorrow. Should be an experience.

Lunchtime or afternoons are available.........

I realise that at the end of the evening I could still be completely sober.

We’ll see what happens.

[gregs656]

Without a tipping culture I expect getting really good table service is unlikely in Britain.

10 or 15% is the norm on the other side of the Atlantic, but you do get good service the vast majority of the time and table service is typical.

[Robertj21a]

gregs656 said:

Without a tipping culture I expect getting really good table service is unlikely in Britain.

10 or 15% is the norm on the other side of the Atlantic, but you do get good service the vast majority of the time and table service is typical.

I know it's an old thorny argument about the USA - but you really shouldn't have to tip in order to get good service. You should always get good service - you tip if it exceeds your expectations.

[MoggieMinor]

Excellent as usual tonight in my local. The table service working well. Hand sanitiser everywhere. Customers just check in, have a seat and the staff come for their order and bring it to them. Payment by card or cash.

The pub has been doing all this since reopening in July. It has always been one of those places where you could never get near the bar for all the occupied barstools. I never believed table service would work there but it has been a great success.

The only change tonight is the mask requirements, they have been closing at 10pm since reopening.

[Blue Oval84]

One of my locals, known for never being particularly attentive (they struggle with basic things like regularly checking there's adequate supplies of st roll in the toilets) switched to table service when they reopened and I thought it was really successful. Much easier than getting up and going to the bar where there was always a queue.

Went in again the other week to find the table service had stopped and the bar as usual was sluggish, with many of the staff AWOL (as usual) out the back.

I'm quite pleased they're being forced to bring the table service back because it actually worked a lot better.

By far and away the best one is one of the city centre pubs that has brought in online ordering though, that system just works. If one good thing comes out of the pandemic I hope it's that more UK venues up their game in terms of service.